Revolutionizing Production with Eco+^™ and Recycled Containers

Five years after their initial launch, we’re reflecting on the progress we’ve made with our groundbreaking 100% plastic-free Eco+^™ grower pots and the subsequent push for 100% recycled containers.

Our Mission to Make a Difference 

Long before 2021 – the year that changed everything when it comes to the grower pots we use and sell – the owners of Proven Winners and members of our executive team knew that things had to change, and that we were the leaders to do it.

States were beginning to limit single-use plastics, grocery stores started charging for bags, and the knowledge that we could truly effect change weighed on us.

So, years before the first plastic-free or 100% recycled containers ever rolled off the production line, we set out on a mission to make a meaningful difference.

We’re on a mission to develop plastic-free, plant-powered grower pots to reduce usage of single-use plastics.

The Challenge: Reduce the Industry’s Consumption of Single-Use Plastics

It’s no secret that the horticulture industry relies heavily on petroleum-based pots – products designed to last forever yet are used only for a season. Though they are able to be recycled, many are discarded in the trash instead, quietly accumulating in local landfills.

We couldn’t ignore that reality. So, we began with a lofty idea and a strong belief that if we could even make a small shift in the industry, it would amount to impactful change – maybe it would even be revolutionary. If we achieved our goal, millions of pounds of single-use plastic would never make its way to growers’ or garden centers’ benches.

Pre-2021: Eco+ Prototype Development

Partnering with one of the most innovative container manufacturers in the nation – VistaTek of Minnesota led by Danny Mishek – we set out to develop a 100% plastic-free grower pot that is made entirely from plants for plants.

The partnership was a natural fit. VistaTek specializes in manufacturing bio-plastics and utilizing recycled materials. And we knew that Mishek’s extraordinary passion and ingenuity would lead us where we needed to go.

We began the process of developing a prototype for the Eco+ Grande^® grower pot made entirely from plants grown in the U.S. The starch from the sugars in the plants is processed into a biopolymer called PLA (polylactic acid) that looks, acts and performs like traditional plastic but actually contains no plastic at all. Additionally, our first prototype incorporated amino acids and proteins as nutrients into the walls of the pot to help it break down faster in the ground.

The early days of the process were defined by experimentation, failure and persistence. We tested materials that didn’t always perform the way we hoped. We learned, made adjustments, and tried again. Those first trials weren’t perfect, but what mattered most is that we were making progress - and progress was good!

Image: Danny Mishek of VistaTek proudly shows off the original Eco+ Grande pot at Cultivate.

2024: Eco+ 2.0 Pots – Retooled and Resized

Innovation is rarely a straight path to success. But each setback carried a lesson, and each lesson brought us closer to our goal. Over time, what was once a lofty idea began to take shape and catch on. And with every improvement, our belief grew stronger: this could really work!

After some retooling and lots more testing, we launched our Eco+ Grande 2.0 grower pot, this time with two larger break-out tabs for aeration and a more durable, versatile tag lock. Thinner walls would help the container break down faster when planted in the ground.

At the same time, we added a second size – the quart-sized Eco+ Elite^™ grower pot which was perfect for larger annuals and spring production perennials.

Feedback on the retooled design and new size rolled in from growers and sent us back to VistaTek for yet more refinement. Common sentiment was that the industry was not yet ready for a plantable pot, but they would consider using plastic-free grower pots if they worked in production, on retail benches and for home gardeners.

Image: Eco+ Grande, awarded Sustainability Product of the Year by Business Intelligence Group (2024).

2026: Our Best Eco+ 3.0 Grower Pots Launch

After nearly a decade of research and five years in from the initial launch, 3.2 million of our very best plant-powered, industrial compostable Eco+ Grande and Eco+ Elite 3.0 containers are shipping to growers and garden centers across the U.S. in 2026.

This stronger, more durable, more refined container is a solution that meets our sustainability goals while serving the real-world demands of production and retail. Eco+ 3.0 containers look and feel like plastic while remaining 100% plastic-free. They have the advantages of printability, a durable tag lock, tray compatibility and Self-Symetricize^® technology.

Image: Eco+ 3.0 grower pots have the look and feel of plastic while remaining plastic-free. 

Cumulative Impact of Eco+ Grower Pots

In the earliest years of Eco+ pot development, we gave away tens of thousands of prototype pots to growers in return for their feedback. We listened to their concerns, went back to the drawing board, and never gave up. We believed unequivocally that plastic-free pots were possible. And today, the goal we set over a decade ago is well on its way to being achieved.

Over 14,000,000 plastic-free, plant-powered, industrial compostable Eco+ grower pots have been used in place of plastic pots since 2021. More than 2,000,000 pounds of petroleum-based, single-use plastic pots have been replaced, and Eco+ pots are quickly gaining momentum in the industry.

Ripple Effect: Recycled Containers & Tag Lines Expand

Success breeds success. We have made great strides in creating 4.25” Eco+ Grande and quart-sized Eco+ Elite containers. However, not every grower has made the switch from plastic to plant-powered Eco pots. Additionally, Eco+ technology does not yet exist for larger containers used in the production of perennials, shrubs and trees. Still, we can make an impact.

Invention of Eco+ pots has opened the eyes of many in the industry who are seeing a greener way forward. Subsequent demand for recycled plastic grower pots and plant tags is increasing along with plastic-free pots. Here’s where we stand today:

• In 2026, we are shipping 2.2 million 100% post-consumer recycled grower pots to growers with our retail ready products.
  
  
• Co-Ex annual containers are being manufactured from 70% recycled material with a 100% recycled black liner.
  
  
• Co-Ex Proven Winners Perennial and Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub containers are being manufactured from 40-50% recycled material with
  a 100% recycled black liner.
  
  
• Bloomprint^™ textile grow bags from Proven Winners ColorChoice use 83% less plastic than standard grower pots while offering several benefits for plant production.
  
  
• 6,000,000 annual and recipe tags made from 100% recycled material with a minimum of 25% post-consumer recycled content are being rolled out beginning in 2026.

Sustainability Efforts Add Up to Meaningful Change

This is how progress happens. Not all at once, but step by step, one decision at a time. Every success and perhaps more importantly, every failure, on our path towards becoming a more sustainable company has led Proven Winners to be the industry leader we are today. A single prototype, now multiplied millions of times, adds up to meaningful change over time.

What we grow today will shape the world we leave behind tomorrow. We are incredibly proud to partner with VistaTek, as well as the growers and retailers who have chosen to join us on this sustainability journey. A better future is something we all build together.

Challenge accepted – and we’re just getting started.

• What Environmental Sustainability Looks Like for Proven Winners
  
  
• Eco+ Containers FAQs
  
  
• Eco+ Resources for Retailers
  
  
• Eco+ Container Webinar/Interview with Danny Mishek